Hodgepodge ~ November 26, 2025

 Happy Hodgepodge day!

1. Do you feel like you have a 'full plate' at the moment? In what way? 

I have said many times over the last few weeks I need to close a few tabs in my brain.  I am hoping some are being closed each day going forward! It has been a full plate this month with house renovations, moving and a complicated, delayed closing.

2. How did you learn to cook? If you have children did you teach or encourage them to cook? Do you like to follow a recipe or is your cooking style more 'let's wing it'.  

My mom definitely taught me some basics of cooking and cooking tips. I did try to teach my girls some cooking skills and they do pretty good on their own now.  I do follow a recipe but I am quick to make my own adjustments/replacements to things. 

3. Last time you bit off more than you could chew? Elaborate. 

I feel like I get bit instead of me biting off more than I can chew! I am quicker these days to say no and not put more on my plate than I need.

4. When did you last say 'the more the merrier' and mean it? 

Last week, I kept 2 of my great nieces for the day while their mom, dad and baby sister traveled to Bangkok, Thailand for a mission trip.  That afternoon, my other niece asked if she could drop off her older 4.  "The more the merrier" and I meant it!  So just like that, I had 6 kids between the ages of 2-9.  They play great together and I only had them by myself for about an hour or so.  Here is a picture from earlier in the day on our trip to Dollar Tree, which is no longer a dollar.  Most prices were $1.50, with some being $1.75 and $5!

5. Write an acrostic using the word T-H-A-N-K-S. 

My goal was to think of things I am thankful for that begin with each letter:

T - travel and tribe/I am so thankful for being able to travel and also for my tribe of friends and family!

H - home/I am so thankful for a place to call home during this transition.

A - aunt and great aunt/These are some of the greatest titles I hold next to mom.

N - nieces and nephews/They are worth repeating twice!

K - kayaking, Kentucky and Key Lime Pie/I so enjoyed a kayaking day with myself earlier this year, along with a fun trip to Kentucky and I am always thankful for Key Lime Pie!

S - siblings and support/I am so thankful for the support of my siblings and my family

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

I thought this was a funny meme on the internet last week with all the Northern Lights sightings!

While working at the hospital Monday night, I got a picture with our local celebrity, John Mark!

I hope you have a great day! Thanks for hosting, Joyce!

Hello Monday ~ November 24, 2025

 Good morning!  I am happy to be back and will slowly try to catch up on life here.  It seems like a whirlwhind of a month.  For today, I will recap my weekend with you.  

Saturday, I took a road trip with my college roommate to meet up with 2 of our suitemates we had in college.  It was a fun day trip and it was fun to see all the new eateries in my college town.  

I love my Kyla! We met 37 years ago and I have been able to see her about every 2 years.

I was excited to find this at a gas station!  I love a diet coke with lime.  It does say limited edition.

After catching up and eating lunch, we went into stores in the downtown area.  It was fun to see our college apparel in the stores since I don't see it anywhere else.

We were all Kappa Delta's together. Angie, in the white hat was my roommate.  She lives about 20 minutes from me so we were able to get 4 hours of car time (the college is 2 hours away).

This is the lobby of the nice hotel there.

Here I am in front of the aviation building.  This was complete my 2nd year of college and where I had a lot of my classes.  My major was aviation management.

The sorority dorm hall was closed due to the holiday this week, so we took a picture outside our dorm.

There is a long light display we drove along as dusk hit before we drove home.

Sunday morning, I stayed home & made breakfast for me and Brook, who is home from college.  It felt good to cook in my new place! We had bacon, fruit, cinnamon roll muffins, and scrambled eggs.

Last week, we set up the Christmas tree.

Sunday, we decorated the tree.  I typically do this Thanksgiving, but unfortunately, I won't have either daughter with me for the holiday so I wanted to do this earlier.

Here are 3 new ornaments from some of my travels this year.  First, is this one from Brevard, NC.

This is from Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY from our bloggers trip.

And this one from my January trip to New Orleans.

I will do a Christmas tour at the new place soon.

Have a great Monday!

Hodgepodge ~ November 19, 2025

 Hi friends! This may be my weekly blogpost for this week.  I will try to do a little recap below and a longer one in another post.

1. Let's do our gratitude question first this week...what's the best thing about your home, and have you taken time to enjoy it lately? 

I moved into a new home last week.  It has been such a refuge for me in the midst of one of the worst weeks of my life.  Unfortunately, I haven't closed yet on my old house though due to some legal complications. 

2. Do you like squash? Of the varieties listed, which one's your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Is squash of some sort on your Thanksgiving menu?? 

acorn, butternut, delicata, spaghetti, zucchini, crookneck (yellow squash), patty pan

Yes, I do like squash. Spaghetti squash is a favorite, but I also like is sauteed.  I usually don't have this on Thanksgiving.

3. Last time you were 'squashed in' somewhere, or felt squashed? 

I felt squashed so many times last week due to so many complications with my closing. 

4. Have you ever played squash? What about other 'racquet sports' such as racquetball, tennis, pickleball, badminton, table tennis (ping pong)? Are these sports something you enjoy? 

I have not ever played squash. I have played pickleball and ping pong, but honestly don't really enjoy these.  I don't have too many athletic skills.  

5. Something in today's society or culture that feels like a 'racket' to you? If you don't like that one, tell us about a place you've been recently where there was a lot of 'racket'. 

The legal system, health insurance, and auto and home insurance.

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

A friend told me last week to try the cranberry sprite with tequila because it was a good mix. She wasn't wrong. The sprite is also good by itself! I made me a mix this weekend.  Life kept hitting at me hard.  I finally broke down and cried Saturday and Sunday after more new news hit me. I am tired of the hard.  I am still finding good in little things, but I am weary.  

Jenn and I went to Ulta over the weekend and bought new lipstick.  We got different colors, but the same brand.....Morphe Soulmatte!

Please pray for a miracle to happen with closing this week.

A Day In The Life ~ November 13, 2025

 

Good morning!  I am joining up with Joyce today to document a day in the life.  I chose my birthday, Tuesday, 11/11!

I have been off work this week and woke up to this view of my kitchen.  Pretty calm, right? Ha!  

I made me a cup of hot chocolate...in my disposable cup.

Had a protein bar for breakfast

Turned my heat up because it was 62 in the house when I woke up!

I listened to Huey Lewis most of the day!

This sweet friend stopped by to bring me a drink and a cookie.

It was 11:11 on 11/11!

I met my parents for an early lunch and had breakfast food. I had sourdough toast, egg omelette with onions, turkey sausage and avocado with salsa on top and fruit. It was delicious!

I took a load of stuff I had packed from my old house to the new rental house.

My sweet Isabella sent me flowers!

My co-worker gave me Pretzel Twists from Trader Joe's.  I stopped by Starbucks to get my free treat for my birthday.  I opted for egg bites and actually had them Wednesday morning for breakfast since I knew that was moving day.

I walked next door to get my hair cut in the afternoon. I am so thankful for my neighbors!

I had a great face time that morning with Brook and then some facetime calls with some greats in the evening.  This sweet boy sang to me and I was grateful as he was the only one to sing to me and he did it unprompted :)

Wearing my 11:11 bracelet

That evening, I went to a friend's house and her son made some amazing brisket!

There was a good spread of appetizers and desserts.

Love these people!

Love my Jenn and love when she meets more of my friends!

A few friends had left by the time this picture was taken, but these are all friends I either go to church with or had at one point.  

I had lots of phone calls and texts from friends and then of course the facebook / instagram messages and sweet messages from you all!

Thank you so much for the birthday love!  Outside of one phone call with some not great news about my closing, it was a great day.  I always call this day my Happy New Year as I am beginning a new year of life.  I am ready!!!